Paul Muldoon

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THE MOUNTAIN IS HOLDING OUT

The mountain is holding out

for news from the sea

and the raid on the redoubt.

The plain won’t level with me

for news from the sea

is harder and harder to find.

The plain won’t level with me

now it’s non-aligned

and harder and harder to find.

The forest won’t fill me in

now it, too, is non-aligned

and its patience wearing thin.

The forest won’t fill me in

nor the lake confess

to its patience wearing thin.

I’d no more try to second guess

why the lake would confess

to its regard for its own sheen,

no more try to second guess

why the river won’t come clean

on its regard for its own sheen

than why you and I’ve faced off across a ditch.

For the river not coming clean

is only one of the issues on which

you and I’ve faced off across a ditch

and the raid on the redoubt

only one of the issues on which

the mountain is holding out.